Review Article

Aptamers: A Feasible Technology in Cancer Immunotherapy

Table 1

Summary of agonistic and antagonistic aptamers used in cancer immunotherapy.

TargetNatureSpeciesFunctionTreatmentReference

Immune checkpoints
CTLA-4RNAMurineAntagonistTreatment for melanoma tumor[35]
TIM-3RNAMurineAntagonistTreatment for colon carcinoma in combination with PDL-1 blockade[36]
PD1DNAMurineAntagonistTreatment for colon carcinoma[37]

Cytokines
IL-10RRNAMurineAntagonistTreatment for colon carcinoma[25]
Human & murineNot describedNot described[26]
IL-6DNAHumanAntagonistIn vitro growth inhibition of human glioma and hepatoma[38]
IL-6RRNAHumanDeliveryNot described[39]
IL-4RRNAHuman & murineAntagonistTreatment for mammary carcinoma[40]
TNF-αDNAHumanAntagonistIn vitro prevention of TNF-α-induced apoptosis[41]

Immune receptors
4-1BBRNAMurineAgonistTreatment for mastocytoma tumor[42]
Human & murineNot describedNot described[26]
OX-40 RNAMurineAgonistDendritic cell-based vaccine adjuvant in melanoma tumor[43]
HumanAgonistIn vitro proliferation of CD4 T cells[44]
CD28RNAMurineAgonistIdiotypic vaccine adjuvant for B-cell lymphoma tumor [45]
AntagonistIn vitro reversion of CD4 T cells proliferation
CD40RNAMurineAgonistTargeted NMD inhibition in B-cell lymphoma tumor [46]
AntagonistCD40 blockade in B-cell lymphoma tumor
DEC205RNAMurineAgonistAdoptive transfer adjuvant in B16-OVA melanoma tumor[47]
CD16αRNAHumanAntibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC)In vitro lysis of both human gastric and lung cancer cell lines[48]
BAFF-RRNAHumanAntagonistTargeted STAT-3 inhibition in mantle cell lymphoma tumor[49]